And the man took my hand and led me to a hidden spot among the rocks.
The ground was very hard, but out of it were sprouting tiny plants, and
there was a little stream running. He said, “This is a garden we are
making, no one else knows of it. We shine here every day; see, the
ground has cracked with our shining, and this little stream is bursting
out. See, the flowers are growing.”
And he climbed on the rocks and picked from above two little flowers
with dew on them, and gave them to me. And I took one in each hand; my
hands shone as I held them. He said, “This garden is for all when it is
finished.” And he went away to his companion, and I went out into the
great pathway.
And as I walked in the light I heard a loud sound of much singing. And
when I came nearer I saw one with closed eyes, singing, and his fellows
were standing round him; and the light on the closed eyes was brighter
than anything I had seen in Heaven. I asked one who it was. And he said,
“Hush! Our singing bird.”
And I asked why the eyes shone so.
And he said, “They cannot see, and we have kissed them till they shone
so.”
And the people gathered closer round him.
And when I went a little further I saw a crowd crossing among the trees
of light with great laughter. When they came close I saw they carried
one without hands or feet. And a light came from the maimed limbs so
bright that I could not look at them.
And I said to one, “What is it?”
He answered, “This is our brother who once fell and lost his hands and
feet, and since then he cannot help himself; but we have touched the
maimed stumps so often that now they shine brighter than anything in
Heaven. We pass him on that he may shine on things that need much heat.
No one is allowed to keep him long, he belongs to all;” and they went on
among the trees.
I said to God, “This is a strange land. I had thought blindness and
maimedness were great evils. Here men make them to a rejoicing.”
God said, “Didst thou then think that love had need of eyes and hands!”
And I walked down the shining way with palms on either hand. I said to
God, “Ever since I was a little child and sat alone and cried, I have
dreamed of this land, and now I will not go away again. I will stay here
and shine.” And I began to take off my garments, that I might shine as
others in that land; but when I looked down I saw my body gave no light.
I said to God, “How is it?”
God said, “Is there no dark blood in your heart; is it bitter against
none?”
And I said, “Yes--“; and I thought--“Now is the time when I will tell
God, that which I have been, meaning to tell him all along, how badly my
fellow-men have treated me. How they have misunderstood me. How I have
intended to be magnanimous and generous to them, and they--.” And I
began to tell God; but when I looked down all the flowers were withering
under my breath, and I was silent.
And God called me to come up higher, and I gathered my mantle about me
and followed him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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